Curaçao eGaming

The 2024 Reform: LOK and the Curaçao Gaming Authority

Before you read on: Curaçao’s licensing system was overhauled by the National Ordinance on Games of Chance (LOK), which entered into force on December 24, 2024. The LOK abolished the old master-license and sub-license structure under which Curaçao eGaming (Cyberluck Curaçao N.V., master license 1668/JAZ) operated. Existing sub-licenses expired during the 2024–2025 transition period, and the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) – formerly the Gaming Control Board – is now the sole body issuing licenses, in the form of direct online gaming licenses (OGL) recorded in a public register. Curaçao eGaming no longer issues or renews licenses. The sections below describe how the old system worked, as many casinos still reference it.

The Application Process for a License (Pre-2024 System)

Applying for a permit in Curaçao was slightly different from most other jurisdictions. Instead of a gambling license, operators applied for a so-called IP license for eGaming in Curaçao. IP stands for Information Provider. Within the scope of this license, licensees could also offer online games of chance.

One could apply in different ways for this license. The most notable was through the Curaçao eGaming website, which is very similar to an official government website, but was never official at all. From March 2020, the national regulator of online gaming and all other gaming sectors in Curaçao was the Curaçao Gaming Control Board – renamed the Curaçao Gaming Authority (CGA) when the LOK entered into force. Curaçao eGaming was never an official government licensing body; it was a private master-license holder, just like its main competitor, Gaming Curaçao.

Both websites offered the official IP license and declared strict requirements for applicants to be eligible for such a license. Curaçao eGaming also developed a seal of approval that could be used to identify the reputable casinos while the bad apples were filtered out.

The application for a license itself took place in clear steps and took about two to four weeks. According to the website of Curaçao eGaming, there was strict monitoring that an online casino met all requirements. The costs of the license varied, but the application fee was usually around $40,000 on average. Under the LOK, applications now go directly to the Curaçao Gaming Authority instead.

Curaçao eGaming License Terms

The official government agency – today the Curaçao Gaming Authority – has a website where the national gambling regulations can be found. In its essence, under the old system these third-party companies got a master license from the government and then offered B2B sub-licensing to casino operators. According to Curaçao eGaming, their core tasks were consultation, online gambling licenses, and monitoring. The LOK ended this model: master-license holders like Curaçao eGaming can no longer issue sub-licenses.

Together with the licenses, Curaçao eGaming also offered various business solutions for online casinos. This included, for example, B2B accreditations, brand updates, and self-exclusion tools.

Player Protection

Not that long ago, Curaçao eGaming didn't offer that much information regarding its licensing standards. That was the main reason why its license wasn't really reputable. However, things have changed recently as the company seems much more dedicated to keeping users informed and protected.

Customers could file a complaint directly from the Curaçao eGaming website in case they had a dispute with any of the operators holding this license. Users could also easily find various policies and rules that operators had to meet to obtain this iGaming approval. Since the 2024 reform, player complaints about Curaçao-licensed casinos are handled by the Curaçao Gaming Authority instead.

There are tools for responsible gaming. There's an entire section dedicated to responsible gambling and operators' responsibilities when it comes to this important topic. Moreover, there is also an intermediary self-exclusion service offered by the company that enables consumers to self-exclude for a minimum of six months. And there's been an overall improvement in transparency and dedication when it comes to Curaçao eGaming and its operations as a regulator. So, we have to give some praise and recognition to the company for those improvements.

How to Validate a Curaçao eGaming License Status

Any gambling site that held a Curaçao eGaming license had to display the interactive seal of approval in its footer. The seal was the company's black and blue logo. Clicking on it took users to a separate page where the license status was shown.

The validator page would inform the reader of the company that held the license, alongside its address, email, date of generation, and registered websites. Moreover, there was a large green field (if the license was valid, that is), where the status was announced with capital letters. If the license was valid, you would see the word "LICENSED," for example. Below, there was various important information, including the complaints and self-exclusion forms.

Curaçao eGaming never offered a full public registry of its license holders – one of the old system's biggest weaknesses. That changed with the 2024 reform: the Curaçao Gaming Authority maintains a public license register, and every casino licensed under the LOK has a direct OGL license number that can be verified through the CGA's portal at cert.cga.cw. If a casino still shows an old Curaçao eGaming seal instead of a CGA certificate, its licensing information is out of date.

How to File a Complaint to Curaçao eGaming

Under the old system, if you had an issue with a Curaçao eGaming online casino operator, the company advised users to first try and resolve the dispute with the operator. In case no resolution was found, it suggested escalating the issue to Curaçao eGaming. There were two ways to file a complaint with this licensing body – we describe them below for reference, but complaints about casinos licensed under the LOK now go to the Curaçao Gaming Authority.

First, you can file a complaint directly through the validator page of an online casino. When you click on the seal of approval found on the operator's page, it will validate the license but also let you file a complaint or self-exclude. To file a complaint simply fill out the form at the bottom of the validator page. You'll need to enter your name, email, player ID, and the casino you have an issue with. You'll also need to add a message, enter the disputed amount (if any), and select the currency. During this step, there's no need to attach anything, but the regulator may require some proof of the issue later on.

The second option is to file a complaint through the Curaçao eGaming website. You can go directly to the page dedicated to filing Curaçao eGaming complaints and then click on the "Continue" button. This will lead you to pretty much the same form we already explained above. Fill out all the necessary details and wait for the regulator to get back to you.

There's no information about how long one should wait to get a response. But we believe that the regulator responds within a reasonable period of time as it lately seems dedicated to protecting players as much as possible.